Barry Steenkamp’s brother blamed his illness on Pistorius' forthcoming trial and an out-of-court deal between the Paralympian and a party guest over an alleged ­assault

Weeks before his murder trial, bladerunner Oscar Pistorius looks relaxed and happy on holiday - while the family of Reeva Steenkamp go through hell.

While the athlete , who fatally shot Steenkamp, soaked up the sun in South Africa’s idyllic Knysna, the 29-year-old model’s dad Barry, 69, suffered a near fatal stroke.

He is now recovering at home in Port Elizabeth.

Barry’s brother Mike blamed the life-threatening condition on the forthcoming trial, due to start on March 3, and an out-of-court deal between Pistorius and a party guest over an alleged ­assault in 2009.

Mike said: “When my ­brother opened a newspaper ­report about the upcoming trial and an out-of-court settlement, it broke him to pieces.

"That’s why he had a stroke. He is not coping very well.”

The family will be attending the trial in Johannesburg, where South African sport ­legend Pistorius, 27, will claim he shot Reeva on February 14, 2013, at his gated Pretoria home after mistaking her for an intruder.

Mike said: “We can’t bear walking into a shop with balloons and Valentine’s things. It is ­devastating for all of us.

"When we are ­confronted with something like this we just turn around and walk away.”

Splash

Tragedy: Reeva Steenkamp

But the London Paralympics gold medal runner looked at ease after lunch at a cafe in the Western Province coastal town, his favourite holiday spot, over the new year.

He was last there at the end of 2012, when he was snapped smiling at the wheel of a £200,000, 204mph McLaren.

This time he happily posed for pictures that were posted on Twitter.

Natalie Meintjes wrote: “Just met and had lunch next to the Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius. Uh no big deal.”

Cafe owner Jerome Simonis said: “Oscar came to my restaurant a few times while he was here on holiday and seemed fine to me.

"He was relaxed and happy, as everyone is here.”

A few weeks later he was back in Johannesburg and pictured smiling and ­talking with fans Tatum Moodley and Pegan Trivangalo at a shopping centre near ­upmarket Sandton.

Pistorius is staying with his uncle Arnold, near the mansion where he shot Reeva , and has daily visits from his pastor.

Nine days ago, Pistorius broke his silence on the ­killing and tweeted: “No words can adequately capture my feelings about the ­devastating accident that has caused such heartache for everyone who truly loved – and continues to love Reeva.

Rex

Oscar Pistorius: At Pretoria Magistrates court in August

"The pain and sadness – ­especially for Reeva’s ­parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow.

"The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Neighbours also claim to have heard screams between shots – and the final ones ­“extinguished” the anguished cries.

If true, the statement indicates Pistorius knew who he was shooting and could destroy his claims that he mistook Reeva for a burglar.

Pistorius shot the model four times through a locked bathroom door of his home but South African police and prosecutors claim he lost his temper during a row.

The documents, given to the defence team by the prosection, also show that police believe the websites he looked at on the night of the killing were in “direct contrast to that of a ­loving couple spending their time together”.

But a part of the leaked information appears to back the athlete’s claim he was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he fired the fatal shots.

If convicted of murder, he faces life in jail with a minimum of 25 years before parole.